Who’s good on here on UK benefits? I’m wondering whether I’m right that this government hasn’t reversed even the Tories’ last gasp, ultra-mean tightening of sanctions, including an expectation of 3 hour commutes & almost immediate demand that even the best qualified immediate apply for min wage jobs - ThreadSky

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social • 101 days ago

Who’s good on here on UK benefits? I’m wondering whether I’m right that this government hasn’t reversed even the Tories’ last gasp, ultra-mean tightening of sanctions, including an expectation of 3 hour commutes & almost immediate demand that even the best qualified immediate apply for min wage jobs

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annadent.bsky.social•101 days ago

There's been a lot of govt messaging about changing the relationship between JCP and claimant but AFAIK no actual significant changes yet. Also some seemingly conflicting noises about disability benefit "savings".

annadent.bsky.social•101 days ago

Unclear yet on extent to which the punitive regime will actually change

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social•101 days ago

Yep, that was pretty much my understanding. I think their messaging on benefits has been appalling and I rather suspect the policy will be too - it’s all this “dignity of labour” stuff which I find pretty nauseating. Meanwhile, people like Ray are ending up sleeping in bins 😢

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social•101 days ago

Unless they change practical stuff like the commuting requirements, 35hr job search, all must apply for any job, frankly the whole 9 yards of conditionality/sanctions (like they did in COVID, without sky falling in) then imo it will be impossible to turn them into some kind of supportive service.

annadent.bsky.social•101 days ago

Yup. Coercion and threats ❌ = good outcomes for anyone. All the evidence is there. However it's up against decades of political commitment to be tough on benefits so I'm not that hopeful

annadent.bsky.social•101 days ago

https://www.abdconsultancy.co.uk/blog/digital-social-security-futures-disciplinary-or-relational

I've written about all this in the context of digitised welfare 😄

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social•101 days ago

Me neither, that (and NHS policy) were the main reasons that for the first time ever in a general election, I did not vote Labour. (Green, if it’s not obvious!)

papaya808.bsky.social•100 days ago

A lot of low paid jobs: Tesco etc, get sick, loose job ( no sickness benefit), can't pay rent, loose accommodation= back at home with parents or on friends sofa on dole ( if very lucky, otherwise, on the street).

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social•101 days ago

Last time I signed on was some time ago but when you’re sitting in front of someone who has the discretion to impoverish you with the flick of a finger (& you know if they rigidly apply the rules, you’re screwed) there’s no way that’s ever turning into some kind of supportive interaction.

normanrides.bsky.social•100 days ago

A 'Job Coach' should aim to match the skills of the individual with local opportunities, particularly local skills shortages. The current system rewards getting claimants off the books by fair means or foul.

cassmacg.bsky.social•101 days ago

I've recently been looking at lit on social security & chronic illness - might be of interest: Dan Heap on ADP & devolution: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/jpsj/32/1/article-p170.xml Cheetham et al https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/7/e029611 also Kayleigh Garthwaite's research: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/social-policy/garthwaite-kayleigh

hotchkiss13.bsky.social•101 days ago

I think very little has or will change. UC operates as the digital workhouse and generates cheap labour for corporations Im not sure that will change.

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social•101 days ago

@cjayanetti.bsky.social could you help?

cjayanetti.bsky.social•101 days ago

You are correct

jindre.bsky.social•101 days ago

Maybe try r/DWPhelp over at Reddit. Lots of helpful folk on that sub, good luck 💚🤞

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social•101 days ago

Thanks - I guess I’m noticing that whilst BlueSky is a great place to talk to academics, journalists, lawyers and medics, the Xodus is maybe lagging behind in some areas that are important to me… not that X is a good place to talk to *anyone* these days…

jindre.bsky.social•101 days ago

Pleasure.
Reddit has its problems, right wing brigading being a major one, but the DWPhelp sub is full of good souls that speak from personal experience.
I personally ’waste’ far too much time on the green and pleasant sub there lol

jindre.bsky.social•101 days ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/s/3eZIxsm7sC

leylandcacti.bsky.social•100 days ago

Having just had to apply for JSL, I was told at interview I MUST consider jobs up to 90 minutes (by public transport) away. So that would mean a 3 hour daily commute.

carolinejmolloy.bsky.social•100 days ago

I’m sorry to hear that Neil. As I suspected.

sdstudio.bsky.social•100 days ago

I have no expertise more widely but I was on uc a while back, my friend still is, she had a very demoralising conversation with them the other day. Still the same weird logic-loopholes, dehumanising narratives and demeaning rules and attitudes.

sdstudio.bsky.social•100 days ago

I’ve seen nothing in my little bubble from gov on improvements. and the schools situations are actually worse (they increased no of hrs kids should be in school) so I have little to no expectation this lot have the least intention of caring for the people as if we were actually human. Sadly.

sdstudio.bsky.social•100 days ago

However none of this answers your request or helps any analysis. Just a rant. Thank you for the efforts you make to push back against hideousness

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